Chapter 12 #2
Rosie fans her face with a napkin. “I might be old, but I saw that kiss.”
I chuckle and take the stool next to Angelina. “Pie sounds good. Whatdaya got?”
“Lemon meringue, pecan, and cherry. But if you wait about five minutes, I’ll have apple fresh out of the oven.”
“Apple sounds good. Can I get that with vanilla ice cream?”
“You got it.” Rosie winks and disappears into the kitchen.
After a long pause, I ask, “What’d Tyler want?”
Angie swirls a fry in a dollop of ketchup. “Nothing important.”
“Then why did it look like you were ready to knee him in the balls?”
She stares down at her plate, gaze unfocused. “He wanted to talk. Said he’s sorry and he made a mistake.”
“A mistake?” I scoff. “A mistake is locking your keys in the car, not flying your fiancée all the way to Vegas, then deciding to dump her right before the wedding.”
She holds out her hand, palm up, and nods once. “That’s what I said.”
“Looked like you said a whole lot more than that from where I was standing.”
Rosie sets a steaming piece of pie in front of me with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. “She told that boy he lost the best thing that’s ever happened to him, then she told him about your wedding night and just how much fun you two had on the balcony.”
I’ve never been more grateful for Rosie’s lack of discretion.
Angie keeps her attention trained on her plate, and a wide smile breaks across my face. I brush the hair away from her ear and lean in close. “I knew you remembered.”
Angelina
Emboldened by his proximity and the rough edge to his voice, I turn my head, my nose brushing against his. “Hard to forget it.”
He lets out a low groan and says, “That’s my girl.”
I try to hide how his words affect me, but it’s impossible to ignore the sudden pulsing between my thighs. Griffin turns back to his dessert like he didn’t disintegrate my panties with three simple words.
I catch a whiff of warm apple pie, and my mouth waters. He breaks off a piece with the side of his fork and brings it to his mouth. His lips wrap around the tines. It’s sensual in a way I hadn’t expected, and my thoughts trail back to the feel of his lips on my body.
He catches me staring and breaks off another piece, only this time he holds up the fork between us. “You keep looking at me like that, I’ll be having you for dessert right here in front of everyone.”
I close my mouth around the fork and let out a quiet hum, my eyes drift shut on instinct.
“Jesus,” he mutters. “You’re trying to kill me.”
I pull back and smile, savoring the combination of flavors on my tongue.
His eyes darken as he brings the fork back to his mouth and sucks on it like he’s trying to taste me.
“Phew. Is it hot in here, or is it just you two?” Rosie smiles and tears the bill off the pad and slaps it on the table between us.
Griffin grabs it before I can get there. He sets down enough cash to cover the full amount plus a generous tip. “Do you have anywhere to be after this?”
“No. Why?”
“Thought you might wanna visit Sadie. She misses you.”
“Is that so?”
“Mhm.”
I slide my hand up his jean-clad thigh. With my lips a hair’s breadth away from his, I murmur, “You sure it’s not you who’s been missing me?”
“You really wanna play this game, Angel? You know I always win.”
I take his fork right out of his hand and steal one last bite of his pie. “Let’s go see Sadie.”
He lets out an exasperated breath and stands. “Thanks for dessert, Ro.”
“Anytime, lovebirds.”
“I’ll drive.” He holds the door open for me to step out onto the sidewalk, then stops outside his truck and pulls open the passenger door.
I climb into the seat, and he closes it behind me before rounding to his side.
He puts the truck in drive and takes the back roads out to the ranch.
When a Ruby Lynn Hayes song comes on the radio, I crank the dial and sing at the top of my lungs.
He rolls down the windows and starts to sing along with me, wind whipping through our hair.
His voice is deep and resonant; it seems talent runs in the Hayes family.
The song ends as he pulls up to the big barn.
“Just need to grab some feed before we head out to the sanctuary,” he says, stepping out.
“Uncle Griff!”
I smile at the sound of my goddaughter’s voice and hop out of the truck behind him.
He crouches down to her level. “Hey, Emmy Lou. What are you doing out here?”
“Mama said I could come see Sprinkle Butter, but she’s hiding.” Her face lights up when she notices me standing beside the truck. She barrels over and wraps me in a tight hug. “Hi Auntie Lina!” she says, her voice muffled by my soft belly.
I return the hug with just as much enthusiasm. “Hi, sweet girl. I sure missed you.”
She looks more and more like Jess as time goes on.
It’s like a part of her is still here with me.
There’s this thing that happens after someone tragically passes—everyone talks about how they lit up the room and never met a stranger.
While that’s certainly not something anyone would say about me, that was Jess through and through.
She radiated warmth and light. The day we lost her was the day our light dimmed.
Emmy is the same—she’s all sunshine and goodness, just like her mom.
I press a soft kiss against Emmy’s forehead and release her from my hold.
At the same moment, Gracie toddles out of the barn with Olivia hot on her heels. Griffin crouches to pick up Gracie and tosses her in the air. She giggles, and my heart warms at the sight.
Olivia grins when she spots us. “Well, if it isn’t the newlyweds.” Her eyes rake over my body, and her expression turns wary. “Is everything okay?”
The momentary confusion clears when I realize I’m still wearing my scrubs. “Oh. Yeah, we’re good. I’m just visiting.”
Her shoulders relax.
Gracie squeals as Griffin tosses her again.
I’ve always admired the way the Hayes brothers doted on their nieces.
Griffin can be a surly asshole at times, but he’ll always melt for his girls.
I wish Jess could see this. If I had kids, I’d want to know they had a family as special as this one to help raise them if something ever happened to me.
A sudden hollow feeling settles in my chest, but I don’t let it take root. I can’t dwell on the sadness of everything I lost when Tyler walked away.
The reminder of my ex sobers me. I can’t believe he thought he could walk back into my life after everything he did, with his bullshit apologies and some bullshit excuse about having cold feet. I bet his feet were perfectly warm on the beach in Mexico.
“Mama, I’m hungry,” Emmy says.
“Come on then.” Olivia holds out her hand. “Let’s get you some lunch before you wither away.”
Emmy slides her much smaller hand into Olivia’s. “Bye, Auntie Lina. Bye, Uncle Griff.”
Griffin places Gracie in Olivia’s outstretched arm, and they disappear up the cobblestone path toward the big house.
I stroll to the fence and look out over the west pasture as Storm gallops past with Memphis following close behind.
Griffin steps up beside me, propping his elbows on the gate.
As often as I’ve visited this ranch in the last three years, I’ve never stopped long enough to take it in.
It’s beautiful, peaceful in a way I don’t think I’ve ever experienced.
It feels like we’re in our own little world out here.
There’s no past or future. Only right now.
“You’re quiet,” Griffin says.
“Just taking in the view.” I gaze over the landscape from the lush green hills to the mountains that fade into the background like a watercolor painting. “It’s breathtaking. Almost doesn’t seem real.”
I look up into Griffin’s fathomless eyes.
Eyes that have been trained on me the entire time we’ve been standing here. He shakes his head. “God, I hope it is.”